Black-out screening



June: 29, 1943, H. N. RENTON 2,323,239

summon? SCREENING v mean. 19, 1942 a Sheets-Sheet 1 I FIG; 2

WITNESSES.- 255 INVENTOR:

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' ATTORNEYS.

June 29, 1943 H. N. RENTON 2,323,239

' BLACK-OUT SCREENING Fil'ed Feb- 19, 1942 V s Sheets-Sheet 2 I I 1 l l a l l l 1 WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

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June 29, 1943.

H. N. RENTON BLACK-OUT SCREENING Filed Feb. 19, 1942 s sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR;

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BY M ml ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

Patented June 29, 1943 BLACK-OUT SCREENING Henry N. Benton, Wyncote, Pa, assignor to The American Pulley Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of. Pennsylvania f Application February 19, 1942, Serial No. 431,465

12 Claims.

This invention relates to black-out screening intended for use in connection with windows or other openings in buildings, particularly with the windows of dwellings.

The chief aims of my invention are to make possible the complete blacking-out of windows or other wall openings against light penetration from within doors, and yet provide for ventilation through them, and to attain this desideratum by use of relatively inexpensive materials such as wood and cardboard.

Another object is to enable the erection of black-out screening having the above attributes without necessitating the exercise of any special skill, or requiring the use of any special tools other than a pair of scissors, a saw, a screw driver and a hammer, for the purpose.

One way in which the foregoing and other objects and attendant advantages may be read ily realized in practice will appear from the following detailed description of theattached drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows, in elevation, the indoor side of a typical dwelling window with blackout screening constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the organization taken as indicated by the angled arrows 11-11 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view on a larger scale corresponding generally to Fig. 1 with portions broken-out to expose important structural details.

Fig. 4 is a broken-out fragmentary view on a still larger scale taken as indicated by the angled arrows IVIV in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view in cross section taken as indicated by the angled arrows V--V in Fig. 3.

Figs. 6 and '7 are perspective views of covering strips employed in connection with the frame bars of a louver sash which forms a part of my improved black-out screening.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the louver elements of the sash.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a spacer element employed for maintaining adjacent louver elements in definitely separated relation.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a pack or kit containing all the parts necessary to the construction of my improved black-out screening for one window; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail View showin a detail modification.

The window herein delineated for convenience of illustration is of a well known type such as is used in ordinary dwellings, its frame being generally designated by the letter F, and its upper and lower sliding sashes by the characters S and S. The black-out screening with which the present invention is more especially concerned, includes'a panel In of relatively inexpensive sheet material such as stiff cardboard or the like, which is dark in color throughout its thickness, non-reflective, and water-repellent. As shown, the panel i0 is of an area equal approximately to half that of the window opening and is secured along its top and side edges to' corresponding portions ll, l2 and. I3 of the blind stop of the window frame F by means of simple securing devices such astacks or nails I5. To reinforce the unattached lower edge of the panel l0 against buckling, astifi'ening strip it of wood or the like is secured along said edge likewise by means of tacks or nails I1, see Fig. 4.

For. the purpose of closing off the lower por& tion of the window opening to prevent escape of light from in-doors without complete Vene tilation stoppage, there is provided, in accordance with my invention, a louver sash l8. As shown, this sash has a foundation frame with top, bottom and side bars i9, 20 and 2|, 22, respectively, which may be of .Wood or other inexpensive material and which are secured together at the frame corners in the present instance by multiprong fastener devices 23 of a well known type, but if desired nails or screws may be employed instead, should this be found more convenient. Within the opening of thesash frame is a plurality of louver elements 25 of angular cross sectional configuration, preferably formed from stiff cardboardlike that of the panel l0, and horizontally-arranged in spaced superposed overlapping relation, as shown in Fig. 4. From the latter illustration, it will be noted that the louver strips 25 are maintained in definitely spaced relation by means of spacers 26 which are stamped or otherwise produced to'the configuration shown in Fig. 9, preferably from dark-colored cardboard such as above mentioned, each with a crosswise portion 260 connecting two downwardly divergent flanking portions or wings 26b which comprehend an anglecorresponding to that between the sides of said louver elements, and which fill the intervals to effectively brace the sides against the possibility of spreading and/or sagging. For the reception of the crosswise portions Zfia of the spacers the louver elements 25 are slotted crosswise of their apexes at suitable intervals along their lengths as at 21 in Fig. 8. In this connection it is to be especially noted that the included angle between the sides of the louver elements 25 is substantially less than ninety degrees and furthermore that the extent of overlap is such as to permit free circulation through the intervals between said elements while precluding passage of light from in-doors, either directly or by reflection.

Secured to opposite faces of the top and bottom bars l9 and 20 of the sash frame l8 by tacks or nails 28, are cover strips 29 and 30; and similarly secured to the side bars 2| and 22 are cover strips 3|, 3|a and 32, 32a preferably likewise of the same dark cardboard as that of the panel l and louver elements 25. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the cover strips 29 and 30 have a width in excess of that of the bars I9 and 20, and are placed to extend inwardly beyond the inner edges of said bars so as to overlap the topmost and lowermost louver elements 25 and thereby render the sash light-tight at these regions. The cover strips 3| and 32 on the inner faces of the side bars 2| and 22 of the sash are as wide as the cover strips on the top and bottom bars l9 and 20, and placed like them. The

cover strips 3Ia, 32a on the outer faces of the side bars 2| and 22 are wider however than the others, and placed as instanced in Fig. 5, so as to extend not only inward beyond said bars, but outward thereof also. As further instanced in Fig. 5, the inward extensions of the strips 3|, 3 la and 32, 32a overlap the corresponding ends of the louver elements 25, and thereby assist in retaining the latter within the opening of the sash frame. a

Displacement or distortion of the louver insert of the sash l8 by lateral wind pressure is prevented by strand elements 33 which pass downwardly through aligned openings 34 (Fig. 8) in the apexes of the louver elements 25 adjacent to the slots 21 for the spacers 26, between the top and bottom bars I9 and 20 of the sash frame as shown in Fig. 3. The strand elements 33 may be of dark cord or string threaded in the manner shown in Fig. 3, with their ends tied together as exemplified at 36 within a longitudinal groove 31 in the top edge of the bar l9; or they may be of wire as shown at 331: in Fig. 11' with the ends of the wire turned over in said groove as at 36:0. The laterally outstanding flanges constituted by the projecting margins of the cover strips 3 la and 32a, on'the outer sides of the side bars 2| and 22 ofthe sash l8 extend into guideways 38 which are jointly formed by the vertical portions l2 and I3 of the blind stop and auxiliary strips of wood 39' secured -by screws or the like 40 to the frame of the window; and it will be observed from Figs. 3 and that said blind stop portions I2 and l3 below the panel ||l are faced with dark cardboard strips 4| so as to be flush with said panel and to form continuously smooth surfaces for the corresponding sides of said guideways.

Auxiliary strips 42 provide upward continuations 44 of the guide grooves 38 for the sash I8 so that the latter can be raised without falling out of the window. As shown, the strips 42 are pivotally connected at their upper ends to opposite sides of the window frame F by screws 45, and thus yield to being swung upward and inward as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2 when it is desired to'remove the sash I8 from the window. As a simple means for holding the sash in raised position, I have shown hooks 46 on the lambs of the window frame F about midway of the height of the window opening, and

eyes 41 at the lower corners of the sash 8 for engagement by said hooks.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that due to the materials employed and the manner in which it is constructed, my novel black-out screening is not only inexpensive, but that it can be put together and erected without the exercise of any special skill or the use of any special tools for the purpose. Accordingly, all the necessary parts can be prefabricated, certain of them to slightly oversize dimensions from the standpoint of area or length, and bundled into a relatively small compact package or kit at the factory after the manner shown in Fig. 10 and so commercialized as a knock-down unit. Thus only a saw is needed to cut the sash frame and guide bars to length, and a pair of 'scissors to cut the cardboard louver and strip elements as required. The assembling and erection of the screening can, on the other hand, be accomplished with the aid of an ordinary hammer and screw driver-all by novices lacking in mechanical skill.

It is of course to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims other non-metallic materials may be employed for the wood and cardboard elements of the screening, and moreover that these materials may be inherently fire proof or made so by impregnation with suitable fire-proofing chemicals.

Having thus described m invention, I claim:

1. Black-out screening for a window, comprising a fixed dark non-reflecting panel of sheet material for covering approximately half the area of the window opening, said panel having one of its crosswise edges and its side edges secured to the blind stop of the window frame; an auxiliary slidesash for the other half of the window opening normally having its upper edge in overlapping relation for light-tightness with the panel and movable into coincidence with the latter, said sash including a foundation frame, a multiplicity of horizontally-arranged louver elements within the frame area fashioned to invert V cross section from sheet material having the characteristics aforesaid and spaced vertically with the sides of one extending well below the ridge or crest of the element immediately beneath it to permit ventilation while preventing passage of light through the intervals between them, strips of like sheet material covering the bars of the foundation frame, the covering strips on'the side bars of the frame projecting inward beyond said side bars to overlap the ends of the louver elements thereby to hold the latter assembled, one strip on each side bar also extending outward beyond the edges of said side bars to provide laterally projecting flanges; and guide strip elements secured to the Window frame and forming with the blind stops of the latter, grooves into which the laterally projecting flanges on the sash extend for sliding guidance in the window structure. r

2. Black-out screening according to claim 1, in which the apex ridges of the louver elements are apertured at intervals along their lengths; and further including strand elements which pass loosely through the aligned apertures of the superposed louver elements and which extend between the top and bottom rails of the sash frame to stiffen the louvers against distortion under lateral pressure.

3. Black-out screening according to claim 1, in which the apex ridges of the louver elements are transversely slitted at intervals along their lengths; and including straddling spacers of dark light-absorbing water-repellent sheet material inserted into said slots to maintain contiguous louver elements in definite separation.

4. Black-out screening according to claim 1, in which the apex ridges of the louver elements are transversely slotted at intervals along their lengths and provided with central apertures adjacent the slots; and further including straddling spacers of dark light-absorbing water-repellent sheet material which are inserted into said slots to maintain contiguous louver elements in definite separation; and also including strands of cord which extend through aligned apertures of the superposed louver elements between the upper and lower bars of th frame to brace the louvers against distortion under lateral pressure.

5. Black-out screening according to claim 1, in which strips of dark light-absorbing water-repellent sheet material are secured to the blind stops i at opposite sides of the window beyond the free edge of the screening panel to form surfaces flush with said panel for contact with the sash flanges.

6. Black-out screening according to claim 1, in which the panel covers the upper half of the window and the louver covers the lower half; and in which the guide strips extend up from the window sill substantially to the top of the slide sash; and further including supplemental guide strips to form continuations of the guide grooves for i the sash, said supplemental strips being pivotally connected at their tops to the window frame at opposite sides for capacity so that they can be swung out of the way when it is desired to remove the sash from the window structure.

7. Black-out screening for windows comprising a non-reflecting panel of relatively stiff waterrepellent sheet cardboard which is homogeneously dark in color for covering approximately one-half the area of the window opening, said panel having one of its crosswise edges and its side edges secured to the blind stop of the window frame; an auxiliary slide sash for the other half of the window opening with its upper edge normally in overlapping contact for light-tightness with the panel and movable into coincidence with the latter, said sash including a foundation frame of wood, a multiplicity of horizontally-arranged louver elements within the frame opening fashioned to invert V cross section from cardboard such as aforesaid and spaced vertically with the sides of one extending below the apex or ridge of the element immediately beneath it to permit ventilation while preventing passage of light through the intervals between them, strips likewise of the same cardboard covering the opposite faces of the bars of the foundation frame, thecovering strips on the side bars of the frame projecting inward of the frame opening to overlap the ends of the louver elements thereby to hold the latter assembled and one strip on each side bar also extending outward beyond the edges of the sash to provide laterally projecting flanges; and guide strip elements of wood secured to the window frame and forming, with the blind stops of the latter, grooves into which the laterally projecting flanges on the sash extend for sliding guidance in the window structure.

8. A black out sash unit for windows including a foundation frame, multiple horizontally-an ranged parallel louver elements within the frame area fashioned to invert V cross section from sheet material which is dark and non-reflecting, and spaced vertically with the sides of one extending well below the apex or ridge of the element immediately beneath it to permit ventilation while preventing passage of light through the intervals between them, strips of like sheet material covering the bars of the foundation frame, the covering strip on the side bars of the frame projecting inward beyond said bars to overlap the ends of the louver elements, thereby to hold the latter assembled, one strip on each side bar also extending outward beyond the edges of said bars to provide laterally projecting guide flanges for the sash.

9. A black-out screening sash according to claim 8, in which the apex ridges of the louver elements are apertured at intervals along their lengths; and further including strand elements which are passed through the aligned apertures of the superposed louver elements and which extend between the top and bottom bars of the sash frame to stifien the louver against distortion under lateral pressure.

10. A black-out screening sash according to claim 8, in which the apex ridges of the louver elements are provided with transverse slots at intervals along their lengths; and further including saddle-like straddling spacers of sheet material which are inserted into said slots to maintain contiguous louver elements in definite separation while bracing the sides of said elements against spreading and/or sagging.

11. A black-out screening sash according to claim 8, in which the apex ridges of the louver elements are provided with transverse slots at intervals along their lengths and with central apertures adjacent the slots; and further including saddle-like straddling spacers of sheet material which are inserted into said slots to maintain conti uous louver elements in definite separation while bracing the sides of said elements against spreading and/or sagging; in which said louver elements have apertures in their apex ridges adjacent said slots; and also including strands of cord or the like which extend through the aligned apertures of the superposed louver elements be tween the upper and lower bars of the frame to brace the louver against distortion under lateral pressure.

12. As a new article of manufacture, a kit or HENRY N. BENTON. 

